Miss University of Arkansas Fends Off DUI Charge

Morton provided a long list of Gafvert's extracurricular activities and achievements including graduating high school as the valedictorian with a 4.0 grade-point average, being in the University of Arkansas' honors college and raising money for a variety of charities. She also received the Overall Community Service Award at the Miss University of Arkansas pageant, he said.

"This really is somebody that everybody should look up to," Morton said. "Her character is, as far as I can tell, just about flawless. She's a serious student and she works very hard for causes for children and underprivileged people."

University of Arkansas students had mixed feelings regarding Gafvert's arrest.

"Nothing against her, but I wouldn't support that," student Susan Moreno told KHOG. "I wouldn't support her having been crowned because it is that role that you're trying to teach others that you should be respectful and you should hold yourself to a higher standard."

Said student Sakora: "But if she's trying to make it better, than maybe we should give her a second chance."

The Miss University of Arkansas pageant awards more than $6,000 in scholarships yearly, according to the official Facebook page for the pageant.